From the RuneScape Wiki, the wiki for all things RuneScape

Runecrafting, often shortened to RC, is a free-to-playskill released with RuneScape 2, allowing players to craft runes for Magic spells at Runecrafting altars. Runecrafting is a time-consuming skill, being currently the rarest level 99 skill. It is also the only free-to-play skill without 2 million accounts ranked on the hiscores. The current minimum requirement to be ranked (at approximately rank 1,451,575) on the hiscores for Runecrafting is level 30. Even though an alleged reward of Rune Mysteries is the access to the Runecrafting skill, players do not need to begin this quest to start training Runecrafting.

Mysterious ruins

Mysterious ruins are large, glowing rocks surrounded by pillars. They are used for travel from Gielinor to specific altars of rune creation. Entry to altars requires specific talismans, tiaras or talisman staves associated to the ruins (shown below). Use of these with the altar transports players to an altar surrounded by its theme. A portal inside the altar provides transportation back to Gielinor.

Both the Ourania and Astral altars are accessed without use of the previously mentionned items, since they have no Mysterious ruins associated to them. Alternative access to all but the Ourania altar is accomplished by use of the Abyss.

Entering altars

Talismans

Talismans are one of three items used to access altars. Each altar has an individual mysterious ruins with a corresponding talisman. For example, an Air talisman is needed to enter the Air altar.

Talismans have a 'locate' option, indicating the direction towards the ruins in the chatbox. Talismans occupy an inventory space since they are unequipable. Tiaras or talisman staves are therefore recommended.

Tiaras

Tiaras are equipable versions of talismans, freeing an inventory slot. To create a specific tiara, the matching talisman must be combined with an ordinary silver Tiara, with both objects in the inventory, using either with the corresponding altar. This process also earns Runecrafting experience, which is listed here. Making tiaras does not have level requirements. All tiaras except Omni-tiaras are tradeable. While worn, tiaras allow access to altars with a left-click 'Enter Mysterious ruins' option.

Talisman staves

Talisman staves are an equipable item which allow access to Runecrafting altars through the mysterious ruins with a simple left-click on the ruins. A Runecrafting staff can be purchased as a reward from The Great Orb Project minigame. To create a Talisman staff, a player must have a Runecrafting staff and a talisman in their inventory and use either of them on the corresponding altar. Unlike creating tiaras, this does not give the player Runecrafting experience.

Talisman staves can then be wielded and be used to replace tiaras or talismans. In addition, they can be used to distract the eyes in the Abyss, allowing a player to the inner ring.

Among the talisman staves, only the Law talisman staff has no equipment stats, so it can be taken to the Law altar which mysterious ruins are on Entrana, where no weapons or armour are allowed. All Talisman staves are untradeable and can not be detached back into the Runecrafting staff and talisman.

Ourania Runecrafting altar

The Ourania Runecrafting altar, also called the ZMI altar, converts Pure essence into a mixture of random runes (without the multiple runes factor taking effect). The altar, which requires no talisman, tiara or staff to enter, gives double the normal experience for every rune crafted. Players do not need a specific Runecrafting level in order to craft at this altar, but the chance of crafting higher-leveled runes increases with a higher Runecrafting level. The altar boosts individual Runecrafting training to speed levels that were previously only available to people using rune running methods.

Once inside the Ourania Cave, quickly reached by an Ourania Teleport, players may use a bank that requires 20 of any type of runes. They can then go to the altar by taking either a short and dangerous route or a longer and safe route.

Abyss

Members can also be teleported inside the ruins by using the Abyss, a 'focal point' leading to most altars that does not require a talisman, tiara or talisman staff. After a miniquest, players can get teleported to the Abyss by the Mage of Zamorak at level 5-6 Wilderness north of Edgeville. Once teleported, players will be in an outer ring and surrounded by abyssal monsters. They will need to pass through an obstacle to access the inner ring, containing the entries to most altars (except the Astral and ZMI altars).

The popularity of the Abyss has died out since the release of other faster and safer Runecrafting training methods, such as the ZMI altar, Spirit Graahk runecrafting, and The Great Orb Project.

Crafting runes

When a player has entered the mysterious ruins, all they have to do is click on the altar. They will then craft all the essence in their inventory into runes (except any essence in noted form or stored in pouches or in familiars).

^ The differences in levels required to craft two subsequent types of runes always increase by 1 from Mind to Blood runes (excluding Astral runes).

Crafting Soul runes

Currently, the only way to craft Soul runes is randomly through the Ourania Runecrafting altar, as there is no Soul altar. However, pictures of the tiara and talisman have been seen on the Knowledge Base by manipulating URLs. Also, at level 90 Runecrafting, a player used to receive a message informing them of their ability to craft Soul runes. This, coupled with the fact that there is a Soul rift in the Abyss (with a force stopping players from going through), indicates that the Soul altar may be released some day.

Crafting multiple runes

As a player's Runecrafting level increases, they can make a multiple amount of runes per essence. However, the experience they earn is still based on the amount of essence they craft and not on the amount of runes received. Multiple amounts of runes can be made at specific levels for different runes. As a player's Runecrafting level gets closer to the next level of multiple runes, they will obtain a bigger chance of crafting that multiple on each essence before reaching that level. The likelihood of creating multiple runes increases with a higher Runecrafting level. After the last set level of multiple runes, players will always craft that multiple (for example, members will always craft double Nature runes after 91 Runecrafting). For Law, Death and Blood runes, the level for double runes would lie above 99, but there is still a chance of crafting double runes, which increases as your level increases. A table showing the set levels of multiple runes follows.

Prior to an update on 17 November2009, players could only craft multiple runes after reaching the set levels.

Combination runes

Members also have the opportunity to craft combination runes which consist of two elemental runes in one (elemental runes being Air, Water, Earth and Fire runes).

To craft combination runes, a player needs to bring runes that compose half of the combination rune, with a matching talisman, along with an equal amount of Pure essence, to the altar whose element is the other half of the combination. Use the talisman for the existing runes on the altar, resulting in:

The talisman being consumed.

50% success in making combination runes.

For a 100% success rate, players can wear a Necklace of Binding (an enchanted Emerald necklace) which lasts for 15 uses.

The combination runes made save inventory space when used for certain spells. Alternatively, the player may use the Lunar spellMagic Imbue to make combination runes without using the opposing talisman.

Players receive less experience at the lower-levelled altars. For example, making Mist runes at the Air altar will give 8 XP for each rune made, while the same runes at the Water altar will give 8.5 XP for each rune made.

Pouches

Inside the Abyss or the Abyssal Area, there are monsters that drop untradeable pouches when killed. Players can store Pure or Rune essence in these pouches (but not both in the same pouch), effectively increasing the amount of essence that may be carried per trip.

There are four types of pouches, each holding an increasing number of essence. Players must acquire each smaller pouch in order for the next pouch to become available to them. Players may have one pouch of each type at a time.

Runecrafting pouches degrade after a certain number of uses. When a pouch degrades, a message will appear in the chat box and the pouch will turn darker in colour. Note that this only affects the biggest pouch at first. When a pouch degrades, its carrying capacity is reduced. The Dark Mage in the centre of the Abyss, who can be contacted through the NPC contact spell, repairs pouches for free, regardless of whether the pouches are in the player's inventory or bank. He will also repair the pouch before it degrades. These pouches can also be bought and repaired by Wizard Korvak in the Runecrafting Guild. See his article for his fees.

Abyssal familiars

To help them while Runecrafting, members may use one of the three following familiars: the Abyssal parasite, Abyssal lurker, or Abyssal titan. Being a special type of Beasts of Burden, they will hold 7 Rune or Pure essence. Note that these familiars are not allowed in the Law altar as it is accessed from Entrana.

Runecrafting gloves

Runecrafting gloves give double the experience per essence runecrafted. These gloves crumble to dust after crafting 1,000 essence. Players can then play the minigame to receive another pair. Players may only have one pair of each type at a time.

Runecrafting training

Free-to-play training

Pay-to-play training

Training Tips

Running and equipment

As Runecrafting requires a lot of running around RuneScape, here are some ways of running longer:

Wielding as little as possible, as run energy will deplete slower. Members may consider wearing weight-reducing equipment such as Boots of lightness, Spotted or Spottier cape, Penance gloves, Agile top, and Agile legs. These result to a -37.5 kg weight (or -33 kg if wearing the Spotted cape instead of the Spottier cape). However, note that this is only useful when the player is wearing armour or equipment, as there is no difference in the drain rate of energy between subzero weight and at 0 kg weight.

For members, having a high Agility level so that energy recharges considerably faster and practically eliminates the need of the previously mentioned items.

For members who have completed As a First Resort... quest, using the salt-water energy spring as it gives the player unlimited energy for around 10 to 25 minutes. Players may also use the thermal spring which will boost hitpoints and heal any damage inflicted. However, players should take into account the time needed to reach these spas. Using the Mobilising Armies teleport or making the Mobilising Armies Spirit Tree one's destination from the Spirit Tree teleportation hub greatly reduces the amount of time it takes to reach the salt-water energy spring in Oo'glog.

If players will encounter monsters on their Runecrafting trips (such as Revenants, abyssal monsters, or NPCs at the ZMI altar), they will need a good mix of Defence bonus and weight-reduction to optimize Runecrafting training. A common example is wearing Dragonhide armour as they give good Magic and Melee Defence bonuses and do not weigh much. Players that do not need these Defence bonuses can substitute this armour for Agile legs and top.

Rune running

Rune running consists of a mutual exchange of services between two groups of people, crafters and runners. Runners generally bring essence to an altar and ask for crafters' assistance. Crafters then assist the runners so they can craft runes or multiple runes they were not able to before. This way runners get their runes and crafters get the XP from assisting. Note that assisting like this requires less clicking which may be enjoyed by those who do not like this aspect in training Runecrafting.

For specific details and tips on the main rune running methods, see these articles:

Transportation

Players may use the numerous teleportation methods available to them to speed up Runecrafting training. For example, non-members may craft Air runes and teleport to Varrock to access the West bank quicker. Members may use Rings of duelling to teleport to the Duel Arena (near the Fire altar) and then to the Castle Wars bank. Members may also summon a Spirit graahk which will teleport them at a short distance from the Nature altar.

Other

Members may wear an Ardougne cloak (versions 2 or above) which give a chance of an extra rune (but no extra XP) while Runecrafting at the ZMI altar.

Players who have the Explorer's ring 2 or better gives the wearer a 10% chance (per rune essence, not per rune created) of receiving extra runes when crafting fire, earth, air or water runes. (The effect of runecrafting gloves will not work on those additional runes.)

Temporary boosts

Players may boost their Runecrafting level by eating orange spicy stews from Evil Dave. However, the boost is random and varies between -6 to +6.

After completing the Land of the Goblins quest, players can speak to Oldak using the "What have you discovered?" chat option and get a random boost between -2 and 2 to either Runecrafting or Magic.

99 Runecrafting

Once a member has reached level 99 Runecrafting, Aubury in the Varrock rune shop will sell the Runecraft cape for 99,000 coins. Currently there are 3,155 Runescape players that have achieved level 99 in Runecrafting.